Reversing a downward trend, small businesses in our communities are on the rise. This is great economic news since small businesses create nearly two out of three net, new jobs and account for almost half of America's private nonfarm GDP. Besides being the engines of our economy, they are the unique fabric of our local communities.

Our trip to the Netherlands is just the start of greater collaboration with the Dutch in addressing climate change in the agricultural sector. The innovations in water use, green house technology, and saline agriculture are practical on-farm solutions that can assist California's farmers. We have coherent and very similar trends – the convergence of technology and applied research in the farming sector that not only addresses current market demands, but helps position growers to meet the needs of a growing world population.

In 1967 Paul McCartney wrote a song for the Sgt. Pepper's album called "Getting Better." Philips Electronics used it for a major marketing campaign in 2001. I had the opportunity to ride my bike around Modesto the other day, and as I was riding I was noticing that there were very few signs of tagging. That song entered my mind, and I actually started to hum the melody. Things are getting better. I was also in downtown Turlock and noticed the same thing. Yes, we have challenges in Stanislaus County. But you know what's great? People are coming ...

November 25, 2015|
BY DAVID L. WHITE
CEO, Stanislaus Business Alliance
|Editorial